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Why have investors lost taste for Apple?

By Norm Morin

Updated:
01/29/2013 09:55:26 AM EST

In this Oct. 20 photo, people line up to enter a newly opened Apple Store in Beijing. Exxon has once again surpassed Apple as the world s most valuable company after the iPhone and iPad maker saw its stock price falter, according to reports Friday. AP PHOTO

What is the deal with Apple?

This is a vague question. Is the question asking about the state of Apple as a company or the computer products built by Apple?

Both the company and computer, have very interesting stories.

On Thursday, the price of Apple stock lost 10 percent in value. Isn't that odd? The company has market-leading products and announced record earnings. What is wrong this picture?

"Hindsight is 20/20." Financial geniuses will climb on the "I predicted this" bandwagon, but it would be interesting to look back into exactly who said what about Apple a year ago, or even just a month ago.

In August 1997, Apple was finished. Microsoft even infused $125 million into the company. Look at the state of the companies today. Apple is valued at $423 billion and Microsoft is valued at $232 billion. How things have changed.

The Apple computer has always been an elegant product. Apples were the first Windows computers. Actually, a Windows-type interface was offered by Xerox that controlled their big-ticket copiers. Apple is credited with stealing Windows from Xerox. And Microsoft is credited with stealing Windows from Apple.

Apple computers have always had a high entry price. If you compared what you needed to spend for an Apple, an Apple was usually twice the price of a comparable PC. No manufacturer is lemon-free but most Apple products are well built.

Apple offers some other interesting products such as iPods, iPads and iPhones.

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The iPod was an interesting media tool. It gave you the ability to carry thousands of songs with you for your listening pleasure. Eventually, it morphed into a device that would allow you to view videos and even surf the Internet.

The iPhone used a lot of iPod technology to become the most wanted cellphone on the market. Have you heard of "Apple picking?" IPhone theft is so popular that it warrants a new term. Police warn citizens to keep their iPhones out of sight. Would you carry your wallet by your head while walking down a busy street? You are an easy target for an iCrime.

Are you getting the feeling that the letter "i" is going to become an Apple trademark? Every recent product from Apple is an iSomething. Will it be a patent infringement to use the letter "i" in the future?

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